Covid19

[vertical_doug]

I go to the office 3 times a week, and was bringing employees in for short days arriving after rush to leave before rush hour.

Wednesday 9:30 am walking across Millenium bridge in London. As you can see, hardly anyone is in the city as most law firms and financial firms remain closed. From Friday, the GOV is raising the alert level to tier 2 and advising to WFH. I don't mind this, but it does boil my blood when I see the tiered behavior of people going out at night and being wankers.

[Too Tall]

You have every right in the world Doug. Stay safe. Let's get beyond this no matter what it takes.

[fastupslowdown]

I'm still working from home 5 days a week -Mike G

[j44ke]

Quite a few firms in NYC are considering June 2021 as the projected "back to normal" date. Just doesn't make any sense to ramp up for a return this fall, only to turn around and send everyone home again.

[fastupslowdown]

Quite a few firms in NYC are considering June 2021 as the projected "back to normal" date. Just doesn't make any sense to ramp up for a return this fall, only to turn around and send everyone home again.

In my view. the work environment is forever changed. working from home will now be part of every company's calculations. Ofice space is not cheap too, especially in NYC. -Mike G

[vertical_doug]

In my view. the work environment is forever changed. working from home will now be part of every company's calculations. Ofice space is not cheap too, especially in NYC. -Mike G

It works for some businesses, for others I equate it to spending your savings. On boarding new employees, maintaining loyalty and a culture, new initiatives will be more difficult in my opinion. . .

[j44ke]

For law firms, the amount of money saved in airfare is incredible.

However, times are a bit scary for law students.

And there will be big fights over real estate contracts.

It works for some businesses, for others I equate it to spending your savings. On boarding new employees, maintaining loyalty and a culture, new initiatives will be more difficult in my opinion. . .

I think open and flexible work space may be an offer that would help get new employees, maintain loyalty and perhaps even create a culture. At least in law, the kids coming into the firms are more .law start up mentality than white shoe. Not slackers, just unconvinced that the old way is the only way.

But yeah, law firms are not all firms and there is tremendous status quo inertia in law. Work at home today and then 12 months after a vaccine gets figured out, everything is back to office + airplane.

[vertical_doug]

[j44ke]

Yeah, that's the no-vaccine-yet plateau I think.

[vertical_doug]

Yeah, that's the no-vaccine-yet plateau I think.

Actually, it was the summer optimism. We are about to get the winter crash. . .

Spanish Flu had an identical pattern. The only saving grace (touch wood) is COVID did not gain function versus young healthy people like Spanish flu did.

[j44ke]

Actually, it was the summer optimism. We are about to get the winter crash. . .

Spanish Flu had an identical pattern. The only saving grace (touch wood) is COVID did not gain function versus young healthy people like Spanish flu did.

Ah yes - you are right of course. Sunny day today and 72F so was feeling optimistic myself.

[EDS]

For law firms, the amount of money saved in airfare is incredible.

However, times are a bit scary for law students.

And there will be big fights over real estate contracts.



I think open and flexible work space may be an offer that would help get new employees, maintain loyalty and perhaps even create a culture. At least in law, the kids coming into the firms are more .law start up mentality than white shoe. Not slackers, just unconvinced that the old way is the only way.

But yeah, law firms are not all firms and there is tremendous status quo inertia in law. Work at home today and then 12 months after a vaccine gets figured out, everything is back to office + airplane.

Lot of law firms are also locked into long-term leases so there is some sunk costs already. In some respects I miss the office. No one thinks twice now about scheduling a zoom call for 7:30 in the morning nowadays because the assumption is there is no "commuting" time to be scheduled around.

[vertical_doug]

Lot of law firms are also locked into long-term leases so there is some sunk costs already. In some respects I miss the office. No one thinks twice now about scheduling a zoom call for 7:30 in the morning nowadays because the assumption is there is no "commuting" time to be scheduled around.

Zoom call bloat. It's like any meeting. If run well, can be really worth the time and effort, if run poorly, a waste of time.. I think ZOOM is easier to be the later.

[j44ke]

Lot of law firms are also locked into long-term leases so there is some sunk costs already. In some respects I miss the office. No one thinks twice now about scheduling a zoom call for 7:30 in the morning nowadays because the assumption is there is no "commuting" time to be scheduled around.

Yes, my wife's first Zoom was at 8AM this morning, and she has been going since. Last video conference scheduled to end at 6PM, but there is usually some call she will have to "jump onto" later in the evening.

[snotrockets]

Quite a few firms in NYC are considering June 2021 as the projected "back to normal" date. Just doesn't make any sense to ramp up for a return this fall, only to turn around and send everyone home again.

That's also the office reopening date given by a lot of tech companies in the SF Bay Area, but rumors are that some teams have already internally given up on this date and are targeting 2022 at the earliest.

[jimcav]

Actually, it was the summer optimism.

Yep, I've seen too many people with bipolar disorder over the last 3 decades who had a "it's nice out, I feel good, I think I can stop taking my lithium" attitude. Resultant pain for themselves and those who loved them.

The continued moronic, magical thinking and dismissal of what the actual experts have warned is so frustrating. Unlike 1918-19, the nearly continuous mobility of everyone makes this daunting even if they masked and distanced during all activity/travel. I managed to drive to MD and back and got within 6 feet of 2 people--a cashier in gas station in IL and a waiter at a restaurant in Bentonville, AR. Both had masks, as did I (only removed it to eat). I stayed in 5 hotels and all had excellent admin and engineering controls to limit contact, required masks, and maintain 6+feet. I saw more than a few guests in the hallways being maskless.

[Matthew Strongin]

Yes, my wife's first Zoom was at 8AM this morning, and she has been going since. Last video conference scheduled to end at 6PM, but there is usually some call she will have to "jump onto" later in the evening.

No exaggeration, I've been on virtual meetings (not technically zoom) for 10 hours today and almost 30 hours this week. It's pretty brutal.

[cs124]

No exaggeration, I've been on virtual meetings (not technically zoom) for 10 hours today and almost 30 hours this week. It's pretty brutal.

Same story here.
But I'm stretched across Zurich, Sydney and New York timezones. The concept of day and night has become blurry.

[Will Neide]

I definitely get more done during Zoom meetings than I did with in-person meetings.

I have a Zoom at 7 tomorrow. Coffee, breakfast, and Zoom. Part of me hopes things don't go back to the "old way", but there is a need for refinement in the new processes.

[Octave]

I definitely get more done during Zoom meetings than I did with in-person meetings.

Due to my country bumpkin internet I tend to do audio-only Zoom/Teams meetings. I too get more done during these meetings, which these days means I'm shelling beans for storage, hulling hazelnuts, and trimming pot.

That's what you meant, right?